Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Omaha's Jan. 1–March 31 Window
For 2027, Omaha is looking at 39 Medicare Advantage plans: 11 new, 17 gone since 2026, and 12 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Douglas County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.
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OMAHA, Neb. — If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during this fall's rush and later wonder whether you picked the right one, the calendar is on your side. From January 1 through March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) gives people already enrolled in an Advantage plan one shot to make a change for 2027. Miss that date, and your next chance in most cases won't come until the fall Annual Enrollment Period.
Key takeaways
- The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year and is only for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- You can make one change during MA-OEP: switch to a different Advantage plan, or drop your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (with the option to add a stand-alone Part D plan).
- If you miss both the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15–Dec. 7) and MA-OEP, you generally must wait until the next AEP unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and a $615 maximum deductible in 2026, and a $2,400 cap with a $700 maximum deductible in 2027 — good context when comparing drug coverage during either window.
Here in Douglas County, where Omaha sits, that three-month window matters because it's the last built-in "second look" before your coverage is locked in for the rest of the year.
Two windows, two different rulebooks
The fall Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — October 15 to December 7 — is the big one. During AEP, almost anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) — January 1 to March 31 — is narrower. It is only for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1. If you are in Original Medicare on that date, MA-OEP is not for you.
Knowing which window you're in changes what you're allowed to do.
What you can — and can't — change from Jan. 1 to March 31
During MA-OEP, if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage).
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Original Medicare.
- If you return to Original Medicare, join a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
You cannot use MA-OEP to:
- Join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time if you were in Original Medicare on January 1.
- Switch from one stand-alone Part D plan to another if you're staying in Original Medicare.
- Make more than one change. Only your first MA-OEP change goes through.
Your new coverage starts the first day of the month after the plan gets your request. Ask early in the month and you may see a faster effective date.
Why timing matters this year
Two program-level changes make 2027 a year to double-check your coverage:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending reaches that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. Part D now has three phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic — instead of four.
There is also the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, an optional program that lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the year in monthly amounts instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. You can sign up at any point.
If any of these features would change how you feel about your current plan, MA-OEP is your window to act.
Missed AEP? Here's how MA-OEP can help — and where it can't
A few common Omaha-area scenarios:
- You enrolled in an Advantage plan during AEP and the provider network isn't what you expected. MA-OEP lets you switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
- You're on Original Medicare and wish you had joined an Advantage plan. MA-OEP does not help. You'll generally have to wait until the next AEP unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, a move out of your plan's service area, loss of employer coverage, or becoming eligible for Extra Help).
- You just want a different stand-alone Part D plan. MA-OEP does not cover that switch on its own. AEP or a Special Enrollment Period is usually the route.
Nebraska residents can check availability through Medicare's Plan Finder. Douglas County has a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D options, and counts can shift year to year, so it's worth a fresh look each season.
A quick word on IRMAA
If your income is above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026 (higher for joint filers), you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. IRMAA is based on your tax return from two years earlier. Switching plans during MA-OEP doesn't change IRMAA, but it's a good time to make sure you understand your full monthly cost.
Where to get unbiased help in Omaha
You don't have to sort this out alone, and you don't have to go through a sales call to get answers.
- Medicare.gov — compare plans in your ZIP code and read the official rules on enrollment periods.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
- Nebraska SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) — free, one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who don't sell insurance.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Douglas County
(MA penetration in Douglas County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan during MA-OEP?
How many changes can I make between January 1 and March 31?
What if I miss both AEP and MA-OEP?
Does MA-OEP let me change my stand-alone Part D plan?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Omaha
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This page was last updated: October 1, 2026.